Stop, Drop and Roll

First-grade worrywart Jessica, whom we last saw in 100th Day Worries (VL Online-4/01), returns in this iconographic animated adaptation of the 2001 picture book written by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Arthur Howard. Since Jessica already worries about her spelling homework, worries about whether she will wake up in time for school, worries about…well, you get the idea…she's naturally predisposed to freak majorly when her teacher Mr. Martin tells the class that "Fire Prevention Week" is coming up. The good news is that young viewers actually receive a fairly comprehensive fire safety primer on smoke alarms, sprinklers, escape plans, fire drills, and general do's and don'ts (never play with matches, etc.). The bad news is that Jessica is a miniature drama mama whose nervous indecisiveness sucks everyone around her into a 24/7 Jessica World (of course, this is an adult reaction to a kid's story--it's not as if Jessica will be submitting her résumé to me tomorrow--but as role models for children go, I can think of better). One of Spoken Arts "Special Appearance Videos," the program also features a brief introductory interview with the author. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)